Country Guide
United Arab Emirates
The UAE has no single federal medical licence. Licensing is devolved to three separate authorities — DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), and MOHAP (Northern Emirates) — and a licence from one is not automatically valid in another. All three require Primary Source Verification through the DataFlow Group.
Doctors Track
DHA / DOH / MOHAP
Pathways to registration
- Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) self-check: confirm your degree, clinical experience, and prior licensure meet each authority's published PQR.
- DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV): an independent third-party check that contacts every issuing institution directly. A completed report can generally be transferred between authorities.
- Licensing exam: delivered via Prometric (DHA, MOHAP) or Pearson VUE (DOH) computer-based testing centres.
- Employer activation: the licence is not sufficient — a sponsoring healthcare facility must formally activate it before you can begin clinical work.
Varies by authority and profession; typically IELTS or OET with scores aligned to the authority's PQR.
Indicative fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| DataFlow PSV (typical range) | USD 150–400+ |
| DHA licensing exam (CBT, Prometric) | ~USD 240 |
| DHA licence activation — doctors/dentists | AED 3,000–5,000 |
| DHA licence activation — specialists/consultants | AED 6,000–10,000 |
| DHA licence activation — nurses | AED 1,000 |
| MOHAP evaluation certificate — nurses | AED 1,000 |
| Inter-authority licence conversion fee | AED 100 |
Typically 3–6 months from starting DataFlow verification to holding an activated licence, depending on exam scheduling and employer activation.
Nurses & Midwives Track
DHA / DOH / MOHAP
Licensing exam pathway
Pathway steps
- 1Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) self-check to confirm your nursing qualifications meet the authority's standards.
- 2DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV) of degree, registration, and work history.
- 3Licensing exam via Prometric (DHA, MOHAP) or Pearson VUE (DOH).
- 4Employer activation: a sponsoring healthcare facility must formally activate the licence before clinical work can begin.
Varies by authority; typically IELTS or OET with scores aligned to the authority's PQR.
Indicative fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| DataFlow PSV (typical range) | USD 150–400+ |
| DHA licensing exam (CBT, Prometric) | ~USD 240 |
| DHA licence activation — nurses | AED 1,000 |
| MOHAP evaluation certificate — nurses | AED 1,000 |
Typically 3–6 months from starting DataFlow verification to holding an activated licence.
Visa Route
Employer-sponsored residence visa
- Healthcare work visas in the UAE are employer-sponsored: once your licence is issued and you accept a position with an approved facility, the employer initiates residence-visa formalities.
- Includes a mandatory communicable-disease medical screening as part of visa fitness.
- There is no independent skilled-worker points visa route for healthcare professionals — sponsorship by a licensed UAE healthcare facility is a precondition throughout.
- A Good Standing Certificate from your home regulator is accepted by all three authorities, but only for 6 months from its issue date.
- MOHAP licences are valid for one year and must be renewed at least three months before expiry.
Quick Overview
Doctor regulator
DHA / DOH / MOHAP
Nurse regulator
DHA / DOH / MOHAP
Core exams
Prometric or Pearson VUE licensing exam
Key visa route
Employer-sponsored residence visa